Lifehack: Get rid of Gallbladder Sludge, with water.

Every now and then I realize that for all my talk about gallbladder sludge, I haven’t emphasized the MOST IMPORTANT THING, which is water. In terms of getting rid of sludge of any kind in life, water is the key. Can I say this again? If you want to get rid of gallbladder sludge, water is absolutely vital. Let’s review.

Your gallbladder is a small little sac-shaped organ that is connected to both your liver and your intestines by thin tubes. Your liver makes bile, which helps your body to emulsify the fats from your diet in order to absorb them, and also helps you eliminate fat-soluble toxins including excess hormones. Bile is usually very fluid, but once it gets to the gallbladder your body starts to pull out the water and concentrate it, helping it to become more effective. By pulling out this water you make the bile thicker and more goopy. If you pull out too much water or there isn’t enough in there to begin with, then goopy turns into sludgy. This one simple factor can lead to sludge pretty quickly.

Want to get rid of gallbladder sludge? WATER is the biggest key.

Get Rid of Gallbladder Sludge Long-Term:

If you have gallbladder sludge, and the pain that goes with it, you know how important it becomes to eliminate it quickly. Here are some of the quick things you can do to get rid of gallbladder sludge for good:

Boost your water intake quickly and make it a life-habit. The more fluid your bile is, and the more well-hydrated you are, the faster you will flush out that sludge and the less likely your bile will get too thick in the future. Did you know that according to a New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center Survey, 75% of American Adults are chronically dehydrated? Wha????? If you have gallbladder sludge my guess would be that you’re one of the 75%.

Consider a Gallbladder Cleanse: BUT the gallbladder cleanse has it’s own risks so it’s only safe if you know, because a doctor did the appropriate testing, that you don’t have stones. If you only have sludge and you’re not pregnant, then this could be helpful.

Get Rid of Gallbladder Pain Short-Term:

So, if you’re having a gallbladder attack you’re probably not sitting down at the computer to read about it, but hopefully, you’ll google it later and remember it for next time. As soon as you start to feel an attack coming on:

Guzzle The Water: Again, the quickest way to clean out goop is to dilute it and thin it out. Your body will thank me for it. This is especially important if you get nausea or vomiting with your attacks because the vomiting makes dehydration worse quickly, which just makes the sludge worse. Even if you have stones that are causing the pain water will help them to pass if they’re going to.

Add Lemon or Apple Cider Vinegar: Taking a shot of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice at the start of an attack (followed by a BUNCH of water) will help head the attack off before it gets into full swing. Also adding a little lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to the vast quantities of water you’re drinking (ahem) will help it to be more effective.

Slather on the Castor Oil: Castor oil is anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving in it’s own right, but it is also especially “lubricating” to the lymphatic flow around the liver and gallbladder, which comes in handy when that whole area is jammed up with pain, inflammation, and sludge.

Consider some Supplements: There are a few things that help in the short term. Water and the acidic juices are the biggest things, but some others include digestive bitters and lecithin.

Doesn’t this look awesome? Don’t be one of the 75% of adults who are dehydrated. And Get rid of the gallbladder pain for good!

So – will water and proper hydration fix the problem permanently? It could, but not if you’re still eating fast food or if you have a major hormone shift contributing (like pregnancy ladies, sorry.) But if your diet is reasonably good and your hormones close to normal, then yup. The water is the key. Simple, right?

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10 thoughts on “Lifehack: Get rid of Gallbladder Sludge, with water.”

How do you know if you have stones? I have burning in the lower stomach which started Monday morning, followed by a lot of bathroom runs! I stopped Coffee and Wine…… Its better but still have yellow stool not runs! Sorry for the detail. I had an ultrasound in Feb where the western med doc said you have sludge in the gallbladder and enlarged liver and said we will recheck in 6 months! That didn’t happen. Failed by western med! I went to Sprouts and bought much more greens and fruit to get the fiber. I haven’t eaten much in a few days, some brown org rice, watermelon and a lot of water. I just got a supp called NutriCology Ox Bile — 125 mg and
Celebration Herbals Organic Marshmallow Root Bulk Tea Caffeine Free. Haven’t tried them yet. I have Thyroid nodules, untreated and MTHFR and a Blood disorder called MGUS. I got pain in my back 2 weeks before this happened. The back and side pain comes and goes. Can you help? Thanks so much! Robyn

Hi Robyn,
So – if you’re dumping a lot of bile or gallbladder sludge then it can feel like burning and also change the color of your stool, but I think you should probably check with your doc and get that follow up ultrasound. Just in case there is a stone in there complicating matters. With the back pain coming and going, it could be sludge or small stones and really the ultrasound is the only way to know. My gut feeling is that you’re on the right track, but better safe than sorry. Keep me posted!

I’ve struggled with gallbladder sludge for most of my adult life, and I’m 64. I never show any stones, but have frequent pain. What works for me is the amino acid taurine. It thins bile, and if I take it every day, I don’t have the pain. I started with 500 mg per day (1 pill) and over the years have gradually increased. It is healthy to take as much as 3000 mg per day. Taurine also protects the heart and it has been found to have some neuro-protective effects on the brain too, so it’s a super healthy way to also help with the gallbladder problem. I don’t know if it will work for others, but I thought I would share!

Thoughts on something a friend gave me a recipe she said helped her, but I am wondering:
3 pm. start do not eat or drink after 3 prepare epsom salts–4 tblsp in 3 cups water-drink 3/4 cup at 7
drink 3/4 cup at 9 10;45 pour 1/2 cup olive oil into a jar squeeze grapefruit remove pulp add 1/2 to 3/4 cup grapefruit to olive oil add 10 drops black walnut hull tincture close and shake do all before bed, make a bathroom break and at 11 pm drink solution you have mixed get it down with in 5 min. Lie down immediately
Try not to get up before 7 a.m. upon awakening take your third dose of 3/4 cup epsom salts 9 a.m. last dose 11 a.m. you may eat start with fruit juice a half hour later eat fruit By supper you should be recovered. Is this safe?

Hi Mary,
It’s only safe if you know, 100%, that you don’t have any gallstones. If you have stones then this flush can actually force them to pass, which sounds like a good thing except when they get stuck in ducts and require emergency surgery. I wrote a whole post about it here – please make sure you don’t have stones first if you’re going to try it! Thanks for the question and keep me posted if you do try it.

Hi Lori,
Hard to say – the bitters work because the bitter flavor actually encourages bile flow. The lemon and ACV will help to do the same, although I’ve never really seen a comparison so I can’t say whether it works as well. I’d say try your cocktail for a while and if you’re still having discomfort from the sludge then add in the bitters and see if that moves things along any faster. Does that make sense?

Dr Amy
Your articles have been soooo helpful! Thank you!
How much water is best?
I want to get rid of my sludge which has been causing moderate discomfort before it gets worse. I really like a water, lemon juice, and Apple cider vinegar cocktail before meals.

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Amy Neuzil is a Health Coach and Naturopath and not a Medical Doctor or Doctor of Osteopathy. All information on dramyneuzil.com is written from a naturopathic perspective. While Amy and dramyneuzil.com strive to have the most accurate information possible, we do not provide medical or health care advice. Please consult your physician before starting any new supplements or treatments and for any medical questions you may have.